The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-01

ties as he desired for temporary guard purposes
When the remains were removed from the Jail
yard the people surrounding the Jail were per-
mitted to sea the gallows. number of women
were in the crowd, but these the guard ex-
cluded
In compliance with the request from her
daughter that she should not leave blot on her
name. Mrs. Druse asked Horatio p. Wither-
slime, a notary, and one of the sheriffs jury. to
prepare the following affidavit, which she signed
with a firm hand:
State of New York County of Herkimer.
l. Roxalana Druse in my last moments do hereby
solemnly and affirm that my daughter Mary
Druse, who is now confined in the Onondaga peniten
her father, William Druse with the disposition of
his body. This statement I have repeatedly made
confinement. My daughter, Mary Druse, is abso-
lutely innocent. and was in way connected with
her fathers William Druss,sl death
By 100 P. NJ. the excitement in the village had
entirely subsidized, and the majority of the visit
ors had left town. The execution was conducted
with decency and decorum. and in manner that
did credit to Sheriff Cook and his assistants.
within the present limits of Herkimer county,
although nearly forty murders on record.
The Confession Made by Mrs Druse.
ROME, N. Y, Feb. 28.-The Sentinel has
special from Herkmer, N. Y, saying that at 9
o'clock yesterday morning DIR. Powen received
message from the Jail, requesting his presence
at oEce, as Mrs. Druse wished to see him on
matter of great Importance. Hs Immediately
repaired to the cell of the doomed woman, who
greeted him very warmly. The attendant was
| requested to leave them in seclusion but re-
fused to do So Sheriff Cook was appealed to,
and upon the earnest solicitation of DR.. Powell
he was allowed to listen to what Mrs Druse had
to say, uninterrupted. When allowed. the lat
ter said:
"Mr. Powell, have sent for you to make con-
fesson. Will you listenl"
Eyes certainly" replied the Doctor, and he at
once produced pencil and paper.
what | am about to say to you" contin ued
Mrs. Druse, has never been made public be-
FORE and assure you on the honor of a woman
| standing on the brink of the grave, that am
| speaking the truth. The world has turned
against me, but l know have one friend left
and that is you. Now. you must promise that
| you will not say word of this until am gone
Then you can publish it, and let this cruel world
know the truth of the matter. don't
| than can help. so will begin at once must
| take you back before the murder and tell of a
conversation had with Charles Gates in refer
| ence to the killing of Drcse. 1t was about Dec
| |, on Wednesday night Druse was away. as
| he usually was big part OF the time. Gates
| came in and asked me if 1 WAS alone. George
| and Frank out riding down hill. Mary
| was up stairs. Gates then asked me il did
| not want to get rid of Druse. / told him was
nearly dead now, and did not care what hap
| pened. He asked me if l had the pistol he gave
me yet 1t was in the pantry, and l told him
SO. went and got it and showed it to him
| He saw it was not loaded in all the barrels
| Fmeaning the cylinder chambersl and he put in
| some cartridges and gave it back to me. He
| wanted to know if l could fire it, and went to
| the door and snapped it. 1t did not go off. for
| the cartridge was no good. l put in another.
and said: We'll, you know how to do it, and
| that is enough He then said Now, if any
thing happens. you can depend on me to help
YOU With that he went away. He came again
! on Dee. IL. the night before the murder, and
told me to hurry up-to take the first chance
| got He said should not burn the head. be-
| cause it would leave traces; he would take care
| of that He said he would get the buckwheat at
| the same time and save any cause OF
suspicion. The next morning saw him
coming up the road, just Druse sat
| down to breakfast. This was just after be
raised the ak to strike me, and l ran
| in the buttery. got the pistol and came out.
He was sitting down at the table. He swore
| awful abou. the tea and sugar. and raised the
| pistol and shot hit him in the neck and only
| stunned him. Gates then shot through the
window. AID he fell to the floor Gstessthen
| shot again. l only shot once Gates shot three
| or four times. l took the and cut his head
| off and chopped him up. The head was wrapped
| in paper and carried out to the woodshed. II
| was put in lot of buckwheat. The body was
ali burned up, and none was given to the hogs.
That is not true about feeding it to the hogs. l,
| was boiled and then burned. Gates came that
| night and told him what had happened. He
| grasped my hand and said done nobly. He
| said he would come for the buckwheat to-mor
| row morning, which he did. He took Druses
head with him. 1t was buried mile from
| Richfeld Springs, where l could find it if
| chose. It could never be found. for the secret
lies with Gates and alone. Charles Petit over
All H. = ~
now, and can't talk. Gates is the only one
who knows anything about it. There
was another man with Gates wher
he got the buckwheat and il
hours to burn the body, and it made an awful
smell. / nearly tainted several times. George
and Frank Gates were there some of the time.
They did Hot see much, though l sent then
down to the wood-lot and had them carry shin
giles. killed Druse because l could not stand
it any longer. He was brute, and / had no.
slept with him in twelve years. That is all
can tell Gates put up Frank to tell what he die
tell. to shove it all on to me. but he will get hi
reward some time. Now, you must not tell AM
one this until am gone, and not let it get int
any paper until after IL o'clock tomorrow.
don't care how many know it then. / trust Il
you to see it is all right You can say, too, tina
on my dying day / am more innocent Of tn
crime than those who put me up to do it.
freely forgive them all-all who SO cruelty de
serted me- There are some names on that petit
ton sent from Warren which could cover witt
shame. but die in peace with every one"
After she had finished, DR.. Powell. ont Of oh
servance OF the holy day, offered short prayer
and then took his leave. He desired the abov
published soon after the hanging as possible
but not before
} Another Female Candidate for the Gallows
} Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ALBANY, n. Y. Feb. 28-It is NOT unlikel
that Governor Hill will, in short time, hav
another application to dispose of in the case
a woman convicted of murder in the first degree
: Mary Wileman convicted in Cattaraugu
county, in March, 1886, of the crime of rnurde
in the first degree in having caused the death